Printer having paper guide structure to unjam paper in a printer

ABSTRACT

A printer having a paper guide structure, including a first feed roller to allow a paper supplied from a paper feeding portion to move along a transfer path. A second feed roller receives the paper transferred by the first feed roller and transfers the paper. A guide member is arranged between the first and second feed rollers along the transfer path and guides the paper. A door is installed at a main body of the printer to be opened and closed. An empty space is formed toward the door at the rear of the second feed roller so that, when the door is open and a leading end of the paper passing the second feed roller is pulled up, the paper is discharged along an outer circumferential surface of the second feed roller.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-52924, filed on Sep. 3, 2002 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a printer having a paper guide structure which can solve a paper jam problem.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] As shown in FIG. 1, a door 11 is installed in a printer or copier to be capable of being opened or closed so that a user can see the inside of a main body 10 if necessary. The door 11 is needed not only to repair the inside of the printer but also to pull up a paper S which is jammed in the middle of a transfer path after being supplied from a cassette 12 during printing. That is, when a paper jam occurs during the printing, the user opens the door 11, pulls up the paper S jammed in the middle of the paper transfer path, and resumes printing.

[0006] In the meantime, a paper guide structure in the main body 10 forming the transfer path of the paper S supplied from the cassette 12 is shown in FIGS. 1 through 2B. The guide structure includes a guide plate 11 a provided inside the door 11 so that the paper S can pass while one surface of the paper S contacts the guide plate 11 a, a paper guide member 16 fixed to a main body frame 10 a, and a main feed roller 14. The guide structure further includes an auxiliary feed roller 15, and backup rollers 14 a and 15 a corresponding to the main feed roller 14 and the auxiliary feed roller 15, respectively, which are rotatably installed at the main body frame 10 a to transfer the paper S by catching it. A bracket 15 b supports the auxiliary feed roller 15. Thus, the paper S drawn from the cassette 12 guided by the paper guide member 16 passes the guide plate 11 a and between the main feed roller 14, the auxiliary feed roller 15, and the backup rollers 14 a and 15 a, to be transferred toward the transfer roller 13.

[0007] However, when a paper jam occurs in the middle of the paper transfer path, the jammed paper S needs to be pulled up by opening the door 11. If printing is in an initial state in which a leading end portion of the paper S is caught between the main feed roller 14 and the backup roller 14 a, the jammed paper S can be released by being pulled toward the cassette 12. However, when the leading end portion of the paper S is caught between the auxiliary feed roller 15 and the backup roller 15 a, as shown in FIG. 2A, since the paper S cannot be released toward the cassette 12, the paper jam requires more attention. In this case, the paper S can be pulled up in one of directions A of FIG. 2B and B or C of FIG. 2A. However, pulling in the direction A causes a high possibility of tearing the paper S. That is, since the side end portion of the paper S is caught by the main feed roller 14, the auxiliary feed roller 15, and the backup rollers 14 a and 15 a, if the paper S is pulled up in the direction A (which is the axial direction of the respective rollers 14, 14 a, 15, and 15 a), the paper S is highly likely to be torn, since the side end portion of the paper S is essentially clamped.

[0008] When the paper S is pulled up in the direction B, the possibility of tearing the paper S is low since the rollers 14, 14 a, 15, and 15 a are rotated as the paper S is pulled up. However, since other units are typically installed above the paper S in the direction B, it is not easy to insert a hand to access the paper S. Thus, pulling the paper S in the direction C is the best direction to solve the paper jam problem. This is the direction where the door 11 is open so that the paper S can be pulled up by avoiding interference with other units and rotating the rollers 14, 14 a, 15, and 15 a. However, in the above structure, it is still possible to damage the paper S by pulling the paper S up in the direction C. That is, since the paper guide member 16 is installed above the auxiliary feed roller 15 in the frame 10 a, when the paper S is pulled up in the direction C, the paper S is released while it is folded by an end portion of the guide member 16 and pulled in contact with the end portion, with friction, as shown in FIG. 2A and portion D of FIG. 2B. Then, the paper S is scratched by the end portion of the guide member 16 and, in some cases, is highly likely to be torn. As a result, not only is the paper not usable, but also a remaining piece of the paper S needs to be pulled up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a printer having a paper guide structure to prevent tearing of paper when a jammed paper is removed so that a stable paper jam solution is guaranteed.

[0010] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0011] The foregoing and/or other aspects may be achieved by providing a printer having a paper guide structure including a paper feeding portion to feed a paper; a transfer path; a first feed roller to move the fed paper along the transfer path; a second feed roller to receive the paper moved by the first feed roller and to transfer the paper along the transfer path; a guide member between the first and second feed rollers and the transfer path and to guide the paper along the transfer path; a main body; and a door installed at the main body to be opened and closed, wherein an empty space is formed toward the door at a rear of the second feed roller so that, when the door is opened and a leading end of the paper passing the second feed roller is pulled, the paper is discharged along an outer circumferential surface of the second feed roller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a printer adopting a conventional paper guide structure;

[0014]FIGS. 2A and 2B are views illustrating the paper guide structure of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a printer adopting a paper guide structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIGS. 4A and 4B are views illustrating the paper guide structure of FIG. 3;

[0017]FIG. 5A is a view illustrating portions of the paper guide structure of FIG. 3; and

[0018]FIG. 5B is a magnified view illustrating portion A of FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4A, a door 110 is installed to be opened or closed with respect to a main body 100 of a printer. A guide plate 111 is installed on an inner surface of the door 110 so that one surface of a paper S proceeds while contacting the guide plate 111. Thus, when the door 110 is closed, the guide plate 111 is disposed at one side of a paper transfer path to support one surface of the paper S. Also, a first feed roller 140 and a first backup roller 141, and a second feed roller 150 and a second backup roller 151 to transfer the paper S toward a transfer roller 130 by catching a side end portion of the paper S supplied from a cassette 120 which is a paper supply portion, are installed on a frame 101 at the main body 100 of the printer along the paper transfer path. That is, the paper S supplied from the cassette 120 enters the paper transfer path by being caught between the first feed roller 140 and the first backup roller 141. Next, the paper S is continuously transferred by being caught between the second feed roller 150 and the second back up roller 151 and transferred toward the transfer roller 130. Reference numeral 160 denotes a guide member provided on the frame 101 to prevent the paper S from deviating from the paper transfer path. The guide member 160 is provided between the first and second feed rollers 140 and 150, between the first and second backup rollers 141 and 151, and at the rear of the second backup roller 151. The guide member 160 is not arranged at the rear of the second feed roller 150. This arrangement forms an empty space around a portion facing the door 110 at the rear of the second feed roller 150. For this purpose, a bracket 152 fixed to the frame 101 to support a rotation shaft of the second feed roller 150 has a “V” shape so that the bracket 152 does not protrude toward the portion facing the door 110 at the rear of the second feed roller 150. Then, when the door 110 is opened to pull the jammed paper S, the paper S is smoothly pulled up along the outer circumferential surface of the second feed roller 150. Instead of the guide member 160, an auxiliary guide portion 112 to act as the guide member 160 is provided at the door 110 at the rear of the second feed roller 150 of the frame 101, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Thus, when the door 110 is closed, the auxiliary guide portion 112 guides the paper S together with the guide member 160. Since the auxiliary guide portion 112 is provided at the door 110, it does not interfere with the paper S when the paper S is pulled up from the paper transfer path after the door 110 is opened.

[0021] When a print job is processed, the paper S supplied from the cassette 120 is transferred by the first and second feed rollers 140 and 150 along the transfer path to pass the transfer roller 130. An image is transferred to one surface of the paper S and the paper S is discharged out of the printer.

[0022] When a paper jam occurs during the print process, the jammed paper S must be removed. If the paper S is jammed shortly after a leading end of the paper S is caught between the first feed roller 140 and the first backup roller 141, the jammed paper S can be easily removed by being pulled up from the side of the cassette 120. However, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the leading end of the paper S has already passed between the second feed roller 150 and the second backup roller 151, and when the trailing end of the paper S has already escaped from the cassette 120 and is caught between the first feed roller 140 and the first backup roller 141, since the paper S cannot be moved back to the cassette 120, the door 110 is opened and the paper S is pulled up from the side of the opened door 110. Thus, in this state, when the paper S is pulled up by holding the leading end thereof from the side of the opened door 110, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the paper S is removed as it contacts and slides along the outer circumferential surface of the second feed roller 150. That is, the space around the door 110 at the rear of the second feed roller 150 is empty because no member, such as the guide member, is present to interfere with the paper S. Thus, the paper S escapes from the second feed roller 150 while it contacts only the outer circumferential surface of the second feed roller 150 and rotates the second feed roller 150, so that the paper S can be smoothly removed.

[0023] Therefore, in the paper guide structure according to the embodiment of the present invention, when a paper jam where the paper S is caught between the first and second feed rollers 140 and 150 is processed, by only opening the door 110 and pulling up the leading end of the paper S, since the paper S is discharged without being scratched by other elements while it rotates the second feed roller 150, the paper does not receive a tearing friction. As a result, the time to process the paper jam is reduced so that a prompt printer repair job is possible.

[0024] As described above, in the paper guide structure according to the embodiment of the present invention, the problem of torn paper during a paper jam process is solved so that a paper jam can be promptly and conveniently solved.

[0025] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A printer having a paper guide structure comprising: a paper feeding portion to feed a paper; a transfer path; a first feed roller to move the fed paper along the transfer path; a second feed roller to receive the paper moved by the first feed roller and to transfer the paper along the transfer path; a guide member between the first and second feed rollers to guide the paper along the transfer path; a main body; and a door installed at the main body to be opened and closed, wherein an empty space is formed toward the door at a side of the second feed roller away from the first feed roller so that, when the door is opened and a leading end of the paper passing the second feed roller is pulled, the paper is discharged along an outer circumferential surface of the second feed roller.
 2. The printer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising first and second backup rollers rotating in contact with the first and second feed rollers, respectively, to transfer the paper by catching the paper between the first and second feed rollers and the first and second backup rollers.
 3. The printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second feed roller comprises a rotating shaft and the printer further comprises: a frame; and a bracket fixed to the frame on the transfer path and to support the rotating shaft of the second feed roller, wherein the bracket is coupled to the frame.
 4. The printer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary guide portion disposed at the empty space when the door is closed and to guide the transfer of the paper.
 5. The printer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bracket has a V-shape.
 6. An apparatus, comprising: a first roller to transfer a paper; a first guide to guide the paper on a first side of the first roller; a second guide to selectively guide the paper on a second side of the first roller; and a door to support the second guide and selectively open and close, wherein the second guide moves away from the paper in an open state of the door.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: a second roller on the first side of the first roller; and a body to surround the first and second rollers and the first and second guides.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second guide does not guide the paper in an open state of the door.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising third and fourth rollers, respectively rotating in contact with the first and second rollers, to transfer the paper therebetween.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the paper may be removed without tearing when jammed between the first and second rollers.
 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second side is closer to the door than the first side.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a portion of the second guide is on the first side of the first roller.
 13. An apparatus, comprising: a bracket; a first roller mounted on the bracket to transfer a paper; a second roller mounted on the bracket to receive the paper from the first roller; a first guide mounted on the bracket to guide first and second sides of the paper between the first and second rollers, and only the first side of the paper after the paper passes the second roller; and a second guide to selectively guide the second side of the paper after the paper passes the second roller.
 14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a door which opens and closes and on which the second guide is mounted.
 15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second guide is not mounted on the bracket.
 16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the bracket has a V-shape and comprises: a first portion extending substantially in a transfer direction of the paper before passing the second roller; and a second portion extending substantially in a transfer direction of the paper after passing the second roller in an open state of the door.
 17. A printer having a paper guide structure comprising: a paper feeding portion to feed a paper; a transfer path; a first feed roller to move the fed paper along the transfer path; a second feed roller to receive the paper moved by the first feed roller and to transfer the paper along the transfer path; a guide member between the first and second feed rollers to guide the paper along the transfer path; a backup roller rotating in contact with the second feed roller with the paper passing therebetween; a main body; and a door installed at the main body to be opened and closed, wherein a side of the paper contacts only an outer circumferential surface of the second feed roller after the paper passes the backup roller while the door is opened.
 18. A printer having a paper guide structure comprising: a paper feeding portion to feed a paper; a transfer path; a first feed roller to move the fed paper along the transfer path; a second feed roller to receive the paper moved by the first feed roller and to transfer the paper along the transfer path; a guide member between the first and second feed rollers to guide the paper along the transfer path; a backup roller rotating in contact with the second feed roller with the paper passing therebetween; a main body; and a door installed at the main body to be opened and closed, wherein a side of the paper contacts an arc of the second feed roller after the paper passes the backup roller while the door is opened. 